Method and system on dynamic control of uavs using software defined networks

ABSTRACT

A system for in-flight communications with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a software defined command and control center, a cell broadcast center in communication with the command and control center and also in communication with the UAV, wherein the UAV is associated with a software defined user equipment (UE) category and a message generated by the cell broadcast center identifies the UAV based on the UE category.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present inventions relate to methods and systems forcontrolling unmanned vehicles (UVs), and more particularly to methodsand systems that uses software defined machine concepts to provide mapsand in-flight communications for an Unmanned Arial Vehicle (“UAV”).

BACKGROUND

Today a large number of companies are greatly expanding their use ofUAVs. UAVs have been used for military applications, search-and-rescuemissions, scientific research, delivering goods, and other uses. UAVscan include a plurality of airborne platforms or air vehicles, eachcarrying a plurality of sensors that may be used to collect informationabout an area under surveillance or to deliver a payload to a certainlocation. The airborne platforms may communicate with users, which mayinclude persons or equipment, that desire access to data collected bythe sensors or desire to control the UAV. More sophisticated UAVs havebuilt-in control and/or guidance systems to perform low-level humanpilot duties, such as speed and flight path surveillance, and simplepre-scripted navigation functions.

Initial deployment of UAVs uses normal static or semi-static databasesfor pre-configured routes and for the communication with differentgroups of UAVs. This serves well for the basic UAV operations, but dueto the dynamic changing of the environment and service providerpolicies, etc. static behaviors of the UAVs are very limiting. Moredynamic capabilities and enhancements are needed to bring greater valueto the use of UAVs.

In addition, UAVs flying in the sky may also pose potential risks, forinstance, at public gatherings or during local or national emergencysituations. There are a number of methods to communication with UAVs andgiving instructions e.g. using point to point communication betweenCommand and Control Center (CCC) and each UAV, Satellite, and even Wi-Fifor short range UAVs. However, these existing approaches are inefficientand often times cost-prohibitive. Thus there is a need for moreefficient way of communicating with a group of UAVs in a geographic areaor region.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the disclosure includes a system for in-flightcommunications with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including asoftware defined command and control center in communication with theUAV and wherein the UAV is associated with a software defined userequipment (UE) category and a message created by the command and controlcenter identifies the UAV based on the UE category. The system mayinclude wherein the command and control center is configured to receivean input from an external source and to generate the message as afunction of the input and 2 wherein the input is one of an event,emergency or weather.

In an aspect, the message may include an identification of the input andthe UAV is configured to change its flight plan based on the message.The system may further include a policy generator and wherein thecommand and control center is configured to receive policy updates fromthe policy generator and to create the message as a function of thepolicy received from the policy generator. In an aspect, the command andcontrol center is configured to receive policies and to change itsconfiguration dynamically based on one of a policy generator, the typeof UAV, weather or an external event.

In an aspect, the system may further include a plurality of UAVs, eachof the plurality of UAVs associated with a UE category, a cell broadcastcenter in communication with the command and control center and also incommunication with the UAV and wherein the cell broadcast center isconfigured to relay the message only to the UAVs having the UE categoryidentified in the message. The UE category is one of government,transport and surveillance.

The disclosure also includes a system including an unmanned airbornevehicle (UAV) associated with a software defined user equipment (UE)category, a software defined command and control center in communicationwith the UAV, the command and control center having a processor; and amemory coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereonexecutable instructions that when executed by the processor cause theprocessor to effectuate operations including receiving an input from anexternal source, creating an in-flight message to the UAV based on theinput, wherein the message includes the UE category, and transmittingthe message to the UAV. The message may cause the UAV to alter itsflight plan based on the message.

In an aspect, the system may further include a plurality of UAVs, eachof the UAVs having a UE category associated therewith and a cellbroadcast center in communication with the command and control centerand wherein the message is transmitted from the command and controlcenter to the UAVs through the cell broadcast center. The system mayalso include only the UAVs having a UE category that matches the UEcategory in the message is configured to interpret the message. In anaspect, each of the plurality of the UAVs are configured to relay themessage to other UAVs having the same UE category over a mesh network.In an aspect, the message may include an indication of one of an event,emergency and weather and wherein each of the plurality of UAVs reactsto the message based on the UE category of each of the plurality of theUAVs.

The disclosure also includes a method including receiving at a softwaredefined command and control center, an input from an external source,creating, by the command and control center, an in-flight message to theUAV based on the input, wherein the message includes the UE category,and transmitting, by the command and control center, the message to theUAV. The transmitting step may cause the UAV to act based on the UEcategory and may further include a cell broadcast to a plurality ofUAVs, each of the plurality of UAVs having a UE associated therewith,and wherein the cell broadcast causes the each of the plurality of UAVsto act based on the UE category associated with the each of theplurality of UAVs. In an aspect, the message is further relayed from oneof the plurality of UAVs to another UAV a similar UE category.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of preferred embodiments is betterunderstood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For thepurposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplaryembodiments; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specificelements and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary system environmentin which the methods and systems to dynamically manage flight paths ofUAVs near areas of concern may be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of an exemplary UAV control system.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a UAV commandand control center.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of theinputs and outputs of a software defined network command and controlcenter.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a softwaredefined network command and control center in a cellular networkenvironment.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a missionpolicy management system

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method forsending emergency in-flight information to UAVs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

System Environment.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a exemplarysystem environment 1 in which embodiments of the present disclosure mayoperate. The system environment 1 includes UAV 2 and UAV 3, eachcarrying sensors (sensor 4 and sensor 5) for collecting information orpayloads (payload 6 and payload 7) for delivery. Although only two UAVsare illustrated in FIG. 1, it is contemplated that the systemenvironment 1 would encompass a plurality of UAVs. UAV 2 and UAV 3 maycommunicate with a command and control center 8 and a plurality of userdevices (user device 9, user device 10, and user device 11). Command andcontrol center 8 may communicate with UAV 2 through a network 12 or anRF transmitter 13. Similarly user device 11 may communicate with UAV 3through the network 12 or an RF transmitter 14. In addition, command andcontrol center 8 may form part of network 12, in which case command andcontrol center 8 may be part of a software defined network 12. Network12 may be a distributed network such as the Internet or a wirelesscellular network, which may, for example, be a 3G, 4G LTE network, orany number of wireless networks that are capable of providing acommunication interface to the plurality of UAVs, including advancednetworks using software defined networks concepts. User device 9, userdevice 10 and user device 11 may comprise any wireless device such as acell phone, a smart phone, personal data assistants (PDA) or a personalcomputer such as a desktop, a laptop computer or a tablet computer.Command and control center 8 may be part of a larger command and controlcenter (not shown) which controls not only UAV flights, but which mayalso include other military, commercial or private flights. The commandand control center 8 is typically a facility that operates as theoperating entity's dispatch center, surveillance monitoring center,coordination office and alarm monitoring center all in one. Command andcontrol center 8 may be operated by the operating entity.

UAV Control System.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the main hardware andsystem components of one embodiment of a UAV control system 51. The UAVcontrol system 51 includes a central processing unit (CPU 53), which isresponsible for processing data and executing commands and instructions.The CPU 53 may be responsible for processing sensor data, handling I/Oto a GPS receiver 55, a UAV transmitter/receiver 57, and bypass circuit59, thereby enabling communications with the ground station. The UAVcontrol system 51 is provided with sufficient memory to store theautopilot source code and effect runtime execution. The CPU 53 is inelectronic communication with various sensors and may, for example, beresponsible for processing raw data from the various sensors such assensor 60 and storing and transmitting the data. Data is stored inmemory 61, which is in electronic communication with the CPU 53. Thememory 61 may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory or anyother type of memory technology currently available. To control a UAVsuch as UAV 2 in FIG. 1, the UAV control system 51 may have access tothe location coordinates of UAV 2. These coordinates are measured usingthe GPS receiver 55 that is in electronic communication with the CPU 53.The GPS receiver 55 receives its data through a GPS antenna 65. Thefixed rotational rates of UAV 2 may be measured by rate gyros 67 a, 67b, and 67 c which are in electronic communication with the CPU 53. Therate gyros 67 a, 67 b and 67 c are disposed to enable sensing of therotational rates about the body axes of the UAV 2. The altitude of theUAV may be measured using an absolute pressure sensor 69 or otheraltitude measuring device that is in electronic communication with theCPU 53. Acceleration in the x, y, and z axes may be measured byaccelerometers 26 a, 26 b, and 26 c which are in electroniccommunication with the CPU 53. The velocity of UAV 2 may be measuredusing a differential pressure sensor 73 in electronic communication withthe CPU 53. The differential pressure sensor 73 outputs a voltage basedon the difference in pressure between its two external ports. A pitottube may be connected to one of the ports and the other is left open tothe ambient air. The flow of air against the pitot tube causes apressure difference proportional to the speed of the air. Thecorresponding voltage produced by the differential pressure sensor 73may be used to calculate the airspeed of the UAV 2. The CPU 53 may bealso in electronic communication with payload inputs 75 which mayinclude data from a video processing unit or any other data thatinvolves a payload (such as payload 6) on the UAV. The UAV is controlledusing flight actuators 77 which include servos in electroniccommunication with the CPU 53 that control the flight of the UAV 2. Thebypass circuit 59 may be provided to allow a user to take control of theUAV 2. The UAV control system 51 is electrically connected to a powersource 81. In one embodiment the power source 81 may include a pluralityof batteries. The power source 81 may be used to power the UAV controlsystem 51 and connected accessories. The power source 81 may also beused to power an actuator 83 that propels the UAV 2. The UAV controlsystem 51 may be provided with an RC control system 85 that allows auser to take control of a UAV (such as UAV 3) using an RF transmittersuch as RF transmitter 14 or RF transmitter 13 shown in FIG. 1.

The UAV control system 51 may interact with a mission policy managementsystem 89, which are described in more detail below, and that controlaccess to the UAV control system 51 by user devices such as user device11 (shown in FIG. 1). The access management system 87 and the missionpolicy management system 89 may be implemented in the UAV 2 or in thenetwork 12.

Command and Control Station.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary functional diagramof a command and control center 8. The command and control center 8 mayinclude an interface to a ground station computer 100. The groundstation computer 100 may be a laptop computer, a desktop computer, apersonal digital assistant, a tablet PC, a wireless device such as asmart phone or similar devices. It may be a server in a network 12. Theground station computer 100 may run ground station system software 101as well as user interface software 102. The ground station computer 100may also run policy management software 103 that provides missionmanagement parameters to the UAV during operations. The ground stationcomputer 100 is in electronic communication with a ground unit 104.Electronic communication between the ground station computer 100 and theground unit 104 may be accomplished via a serial or USB port. Groundunit 104 may include CPU 105, memory 106, a payload processing system107, a ground transmitter/receiver 108, and a ground antenna 109. CPU105 processes data from the ground station computer 100 and the UAV suchas UAV 2 in FIG. 1. The payload processing system 107 processes anypayload data received from the UAV control system 51, (shown in FIG. 2),or payload commands from the ground station computer 100. The payloadprocessing system 107 may also be connected directly to CPU 105 or theground station computer 100. Data from the payload processing system107, CPU 105, or the ground station computer 100 is sent through theground transmitter/receiver 108. The ground transmitter/receiver 108also receives data from the UAV control system 51 (shown in FIG. 2). Inan embodiment an RC controller 110 in electronic communication with thecommand and control center 8 (shown in FIG. 1) may be provided. The CPU105 may also be connected to an RC unit 110 with RC antenna 111 that canbe used to control the UAV 3 (shown in FIG. 1) using RC signals.

The ground station computer 100 may also include a mapping function 113.The mapping function 113 may, for example, include a three-dimensional(“3D”) map of a volume of space through which a UAV may fly. The mappingfunction 113 may also include two-dimensional (“2D”) mapping function.The mapping function 113 may include the ability to partition the spacevolume into either 3-dimensional volume-based sectors or two-dimensionalarea-based sectors encompassing and defining space in two dimensionsfrom the ground to a relatively high altitude above the ground.

With reference to FIG. 4, there is shown an exemplary command andcontrol center 152 constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure. In this embodiment, the functionality of the command andcontrol center 152 is created using a software defined network (SDN).The policy management function 154 serves as an input to the command andcontrol center 152 and may, for example, be similar to the policymanagement function 103 described above and/or the policy managementfunction 89 described in more detail in FIG. 6 below. External inputs156 may also serve as variable or fixed inputs to the command andcontrol center 152. Such external inputs may, for example, include UAVspecific inputs such as category, size, payload and other parameters.

In accordance with the present disclosure, software defined userequipment categories may be expanded to UAVs. For example, the followingUAV categories and priorities may be established:

Government UAVs—UE category UAV-G, wherein the G represents a UAV classof Government which, in general, may receive high priority for anyactions or activity.

Surveillance UAVs—UE category UAV-S, wherein the S represents a UAVclass of surveillance which, in general, may receive mid-level priorityfor any actions or activity.

Transport UAVs—UE category UAV-T, wherein the T represents a UAV classof transport or delivery which, in general, may receive lower priorityfor any actions or activity.

It will be understood that other software defined UE categories may beestablished for other classifications or sub classification of UAVs. Forexample, other classifications may include examples such as A-type forAthletic applications and given a priority. S-type UAVs may include thesub classifications of live streaming of sporting events as well asmapping sectors above a natural disaster for generating no-fly orrestricted flight sectors. By way of another example, G-type UAVs mayinclude the sub classifications of military reconnaissance or weaponryas well as law enforcement surveillance. It will be understood withsoftware defined networks and UAVs, the classifications and subclassifications may be static or dynamic.

Using these software defined UE categories, there is also included inthe disclosure an efficient way of communication, e.g. a new SystemInformation Block (SIB) message to broadcast to a group or all of UAVsto provide landing or other in-flight instructions to these UAVs, forinstance, in the case of an emergency event or weather condition.

Continuing with the description of the external inputs 156, otherexemplary external inputs 156 may be related to the weather orenvironment which may, be factors considered by the command and controlcenter 152 in controlling the flight of UAVs. Other exemplary externalinputs 156 may include events such as scheduled sporting events orpolitical rallies or other unplanned events such as a traffic jam. Also,emergency situations may serve as external inputs and may, for example,include accidents or natural disasters.

Mission Management System.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of the mission policymanagement system 89. The mission policy management system 89 mayinclude a mission information subsystem 125 and an environment subsystem126. The mission information subsystem 125 and the environment subsystem126 may be coupled to a mission decision engine 127. Mission decisionengine 127 may optionally be coupled to an artificial intelligencemodule 128 if the UAV is intended to have a self-learning capability.

The mission information subsystem 125 may include a mission profilemodule 129 that stores and processes mission profile informationrelating to the type of mission such as reconnaissance, attack, payloaddelivery, and the like. Associated with each mission profile will be aset of mission parameters such as regions that must be visited oravoided, time constraints, time of year, flight altitude, flightlatitude, and payload mass and power, initial position of the target,direction of a target, and flight path, among others.

The mission information subsystem 125 may include a checklist module 130that stores and processes checklists to ensure that the UAV isperforming correctly during flight. Prior to and during operation, theunmanned vehicle may undergo one or more verification procedures thatare performed according to one or more corresponding checklists. Thechecklists in the checklist module 130 generally include a sequence ofvarious operating parameters to be verified for proper functionalityand/or control actions to be taken once required operational parametershave been achieved. For example, a particular checklist implementedprior to take off may include verification of the unmanned vehicle'sfuel supply and other suitable operating parameters. In addition to achecklist implemented for use with takeoff, other checklists may beimplemented for other tasks performed by unmanned vehicles, such as achange in flight plan, or in response to specific events or situationsthat may arise during any particular mission.

The mission information subsystem 125 may also include a policies module131. Policies module 131 may include a set of policies related to thelevel of control to be exercised by the command and control center 8during flight. For example, a commercial UAV may have policies thatpermit flight to and from commercial distribution centers to targetdestinations, but restricted from airspace over military installations.A military UAV carrying weapons may have policies that permit flight incertain areas but may restrict flight over certain population centers.Other parameters for policies may include UAV and target location,customer and operator preferences, UAV status (e.g. power, type, etc.),next mission on the list, available resources and the like. The policiesmay, for example, contain levels of authorization which will dictate,based on defined or dynamic sectors, where a UAV may fly and where a UAVmay not fly. The policies may also include authorization levels formodifying such policies during flight operations.

The environment subsystem 126 may include a UAV state module 132 whichmay include information about the state of the UAV such as power,payload capacity, distance to user, location and the like.

The environment subsystem 126 may also include a UAV environment modulewhich may include information about the environment in which the UAV isoperating such as weather, threat level and the like. The environmentsubsystem 126 may also include a user environment module which mayinclude information about the environment in which the ground-based useris operating, such as weather, location, terrain, threat level and thelike.

The mission information subsystem 125 and the environment subsystem 126may be coupled to the mission decision engine 127 configured to receivemission parameters from the mission information subsystem 125, fetch aplurality of mission plans from the mission profile module 129, andselect one of the plurality of mission profiles based upon the currentrequirements and the environmental parameters. The mission decisionengine 127 may access a rules database (not shown) that provides rulesto the mission decision engine 127. The mission decision engine 127 mayalso receive updated mission parameters during flight that alerts themission information subsystem of updated sectors that may include no-flyor restricted flight zones based on the level of authorization of theUAV.

The artificial intelligence module 128 may include an inference engine,a memory (not shown) for storing data from the mission decision engine127, heuristic rules, and a knowledge base memory (not shown) whichstores network information upon which the inference engine draws. Theartificial intelligence module 128 is configured to apply a layer ofartificial intelligence to the mission profiles stored in the missionprofile module 129 to develop relationships between mission parametersto perform and improve the assessments, diagnoses, simulations,forecasts, and predictions that form the mission profile. The artificialintelligence module 128 recognizes if a certain action (implementationof mission parameters) achieved a desired result (successfullyaccomplishing the mission). The artificial intelligence module 128 maystore this information and attempts the successful action the next timeit encounters the same situation. Likewise, the artificial intelligencemodule 128 may be trained to look for certain conditions or events thatwould necessitate the need or desire to define sectors to be used asno-fly zones or restricted fly zones. Such defined sectors may then betransmitted to the command and control system 8. The mission policymanagement system 89 may be incorporated in the UAV or may be acomponent of the network 12. It will be understood that the missionpolicy management system 89 described above may include all or a subsetof the functions set forth above, or may include additional functions.Such a description is exemplary only and is not intended to limit thescope of the disclosure.

Application of Software Defined Networks.

The proposed categories of UAVs set forth above may work with commandand control centers also using software defined network principles tooptimize and enhance multiple aspects of the UAV operations, includingbut not limited to, for example dynamic routing and different commandsfor different UAVs during an emergency based on the drone category andvarious attributes such as weather condition, size of the UAV, value ofthe payload, and other factors. Further, use of such a command a controlcenter 152 will permit dynamic packet routing and communication over thevirtual mesh networks between UAVs based on the drone category andvarious attributes, for example the level of security, type of package,and other factors, to for example, to improve security or efficiency orcost effectiveness. A software defined command and control center 152may be reconfigured dynamically based on the external inputs orpolicies.

With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a system 159 in accordance withthe present invention. Components of system 159 include a wirelessnetwork 160 which may, for example, be a cellular network constructed inaccordance with 4G LTE standards or any other type of wireless network,now existing or to be deployed in the future. The wireless network 160may include standard components such as cell broadcast servers 166,Mobile Management Entity (MME) 156, and a plurality of cellular towers168. The cell towers 168 may be in cellular communication with UAVs 162(shown as 162 a-162 g in FIG. 6) within a defined space 164. Inaccordance with the present disclosure, a command and control center 161may reside within the wireless network 160. The command and controlcenter 161 may include generic or special purpose hardware which hostssoftware which can be configured and/or reconfigured to define thefunctionality of the command and control center 161.

The system 159 is able to take advantage of the capabilities of thecellular network 160 in controlling the UAV's in the areas. By using aSDN command and control center 161 may be assignable to various hardwareconfigurations and locations with the cellular network 160. Moreover,the SDN command and control center 160 may have direct or indirectaccess to specific cellular capabilities, for example, the MME 156 whichmay for example, include functions such as managing session states,authentication, paging, mobility with 3GPP, 2G and 3G nodes, roaming,and other bearer management functions.

Use Cases.

The following use cases are meant to be exemplary only and are not meantto limit the scope of the disclosure or claims in any way.

By way of example, when a storms moves into an area the SDN command andcontrol center 161 may receive an input from the external inputs 161.Based upon the nature and expected duration of the storm, the SDNcommand and control center 161 may send out an alert to the UAVs 162within space 164 regarding the storm. The UAVs may be programmed inadvance as to how to respond to particular alerts or such commands maybe uploaded to the UAVs 162 wirelessly. For example, in response to astorm alert, large UAVs may be programmed to fly at a higher altitude,UAV's with a high value payload may be programmed to go to the nearestshelter, while all other UAV's may be programmed to go to a home base.Othe

In accordance with another exemplary use of the disclosure, if themobile network is experiencing higher congestion, the SDN command andcontrol center 161 may continue to communicate with the UAV incongested, UAVs with a class of UAV-G at the same frequency intervalwhile communicating UAVs with a class of UAV-T and UAV-S at a lesserfrequency interval. e Drone-T/Drone-S has less frequent communicationwith CCC

There may be a virtual mesh network permitting communication betweenUAVs 162 during flight. Based on different variables such as UAVcategory, weather condition, level of security, organization, type ofpackage, type of sensory, and policies, UAVs can dynamically change thecommunication peering, packet routing over the virtual mesh networksbetween UAVs to improve security.

By way of further example, government UAVs identified with the classUAV-G may dynamically detect any newly joined and recently exited UAVsand establish/update communications only with other government UAVs andUAVs with higher classes of security based on policy. By way of anotherexample, UAVs with extremely high value payloads, there may be nocommunications with other UAVs permitted except law enforcement UAVs orthe communications initiated by that particular UAV itself.

With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown an exemplary procedure ofefficient communication between the SDN command and control center 161and various UAVs 162. In this example, the cell broadcast center 166 maybe enhanced to provide APIs to allow the SDN command and control center161 and other types of controllers to send a broadcast request to theUAVs or other devices via the mobile network.

At 200, flight information to perform a task is sent to the UAV. At 202,emergency information is sent to the UAV. The emergency information mayinclude a list of safety landing locations and/or no fly zones in caseto be used in an emergency situation, depending on the type of emergencyand other factors. At 204 an emergency alert is received. This emergencyalert may be received by the SDN command and control center 161 from anexternal input 164. When the SDN command and control center 161 isalerted with an emergency event, the SDN command and control center 161sends emergency event message to the cell broadcast center at 206. Theemergency event message may include the description of the impactedarea(s), time period, and the categories of UAVs that are affected. At208, the cell broadcast center 166 may send the broadcast message to theMME(s) 156, which in turn will relay the emergency event message to theimpacted eNodeB's (eNBs) (not shown) and cell towers 168 based on theaffected area at 210. At 212, the alert is sent to the UAVs 162 in theaffected area 164. At 214, each UAV makes the determination whether theyare affected by the emergency event message. For example, the emergencyevent message may specify the UAV category/categories, time period, etc.information using a newly defined system information block (SIB)message. Of the UAVs that received this SIB message, only the UAVsbelonging to the specified categories will follow the instruction in theSIB message and enact the emergency procedures at 216. Other UAVs willcontinue their normal flight at 218.

As set forth herein, this disclosure applies SDN principles to thecommand and control center and UAVs to optimize and enhance multipleaspects of the UAV operations, including but not limited to, dynamicrouting and different commands for different UAVs during an emergencybased on the UAV category and various attributes such as weathercondition, size of the UAV, value of the payload. It also providesdynamic packet routing and communication over the virtual mesh networksbetween UAVs based on the drone category and various attributes, such asthe level of security, type of package, and other factors to improvesecurity. The adaptability of messaging within the cellular networkincluding between the SDN command and control center 161 and the cellbroadcast center 166 provides efficient in-flight communication withUAVs 164 within a defined area 164. This provides ability for differentor preferential treatment based on UAV category and current location.

Although not every conceivable combination of components andmethodologies for the purposes describing the present disclosure havebeen set out above, the examples provided will be sufficient to enableone of ordinary skill in the art to recognize the many combinations andpermutations possible in respect of the present disclosure. Accordingly,this disclosure is intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. For example, numerous methodologies for definingin-flight communications may be encompassed within the concepts of thepresent disclosure.

In particular and in regard to the various functions performed by theabove described components, devices, circuits, systems and the like, theterms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe suchcomponents are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, toany component which performs the specified function of the describedcomponent (e.g., a functional equivalent), even though not structurallyequivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function inthe herein illustrated exemplary aspects of the embodiments. In thisregard, it will also be recognized that the embodiments includes asystem as well as a computer-readable medium having computer-executableinstructions for performing the acts and/or events of the variousmethods.

In addition, while a particular feature may have been disclosed withrespect to only one of several implementations, such feature may becombined with one or more other features of the other implementations asmay be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” and “including”and variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or theclaims, these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar tothe term “comprising.”

What is claimed:
 1. A system for in-flight communications with anunmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising: A software defined command andcontrol center in communication with the UAV; Wherein the UAV isassociated with a software defined user equipment (UE) category and amessage created by the command and control center identifies the UAVbased on the UE category.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the commandand control center is configured to receive an input from an externalsource and to generate the message as a function of the input.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein the input is one of an event, emergency orweather.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the message comprises anidentification of the input and the UAV is configured to change itsflight plan based on the message.
 5. The system of claim 2 furthercomprising a policy generator and wherein the command and control centeris configured to receive policy updates from the policy generator and tocreate the message as a function of the policy updates.
 6. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the command and control center is configured to receivepolicies and to change its configuration dynamically based on one of apolicy generator, the type of UAV, weather or an external event.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of UAVs, each of theplurality of UAVs associated with a UE category; a cell broadcast centerin communication with the command and control center and also incommunication with the UAV and wherein the cell broadcast center isconfigured to relay the message only to the UAVs having the UE categoryidentified in the message.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the UEcategory is one of government, transport and surveillance.
 9. A systemcomprising: an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) associated with asoftware defined user equipment (UE) category; a software definedcommand and control center in communication with the UAV, the commandand control center having a processor; and a memory coupled with theprocessor, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions thatwhen executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuateoperations comprising: Receiving an input from an external source;Creating an in-flight message to the UAV based on the input, wherein themessage includes the UE category; Transmitting the message to the UAV.10. The system of claim 9 wherein the message causes the UAV to alterits flight plan based on the message.
 11. The system of claim 9 furthercomprising a plurality of UAVs, each of the UAVs having a UE categoryassociated therewith and a cell broadcast center in communication withthe command and control center and wherein the message is transmittedfrom the command and control center to the UAVs through the cellbroadcast center.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein only the UAVshaving a UE category that matches the UE category in the message isconfigured to interpret the message.
 13. The system of claim 9 furthercomprising a plurality of UAVs, each of the plurality of the UAVs havinga UE category associated therewith and wherein each of the plurality ofthe UAVs are configured to relay the message to other UAVs having thesame UE category over a mesh network.
 14. The system of claim 9 whereinthe message includes an indication of one of an event, emergency andweather and wherein each of the plurality of UAVs reacts to the messagebased on the UE category of each of the plurality of the UAVs.
 15. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein the UE category is one of government,transport and surveillance.
 16. A method comprising: Receiving at asoftware defined command and control center, an input from an externalsource; Creating, by the command and control center, an in-flightmessage to the UAV based on the input, wherein the message includes theUE category; and Transmitting, by the command and control center, themessage to the UAV.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmittingstep causes the UAV to act based on the UE category.
 18. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the transmitting step includes a cell broadcast to aplurality of UAVs, each of the plurality of UAVs having a UE associatedtherewith, and wherein the cell broadcast causes the each of theplurality of UAVs to act based on the UE category associated with theeach of the plurality of UAVs.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein themessage is further relayed from one of the plurality of UAVs to anotherUAV a similar UE category.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the UEcategory is one of government, transport and surveillance.